Crankshaft salvage machine

ABSTRACT

A crankshaft salvage machine is provided which essentially removes the crankshaft from a conventional internal combustion engine used for automobiles, trucks, or the like. The apparatus clamps the engine block in position, and then rams a cutter head under the block to drive the crankshaft away from the block, while shearing off the oil pan. The unique concave structure of the cutter head seats the end of the crankshaft upon the driving action of the head whereby the greater strength and hardness of the crankshaft allows it to break out of its mounting in the block. Separate ram means along with a pivotal side to the carrying frame allow for disposition of the block after the crankshaft has been removed therefrom. Unique guards are provided to eliminate the possibility of metal jamming any of the rams. The surface configuration and shearing action possible with the head of the driving ram greatly facilitates the operation of the apparatus.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Frank M. Anich 3070 Chenoweth Road. Tallmadge, 44312; Eugene G. Blondheim, 34 N. Village View Road, Akron, Ohio 44278 [21] Applr No. 800,561 [22] Filed Feb. 19, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 13, 1971 [54] CRANKSHAFT SALVAGE MACHINE 7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 29/200, 225/103 [51] Int. Cl B23p 19/00 [50] Field of Search 29/200, 200 (B), 200 (J), 200 (P), (lnquired); 225/103, (lnquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,703,127 2/1929 Vial et al. 29/200 2,526,362 lO/l950 Johnston ABSTRACT: A crankshaft salvage machine is provided which essentially removes the crankshaft from a conventional internal combustion engine used for automobiles, trucks, or the like The apparatus clamps the engine block in position, and then rams a cutter head under the block to drive the crankshaft away from the block, while shearing off the oil pan. The unique concave structure of the cutter head seats the end of the crankshaft upon the driving action of the head whereby the greater strength and hardness of the crankshaft allows it to break out of its mounting in the block. Separate ram means along with a pivotal side to the carrying frame allow for disposition of the block after the crankshaft has been removed therefrom. Unique guards are provided to eliminate the possibility of metal jamming any of the rams. The surface configuration and shearing action possible with the head of the driving ram greatly facilitates the operation of the apparatus.

Patented April13, 1971 7 3,574,916

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN'IORS FRANKH-AN/CH I ATTORNEYS EUGENE G. BLONDHE/M Patented April 13, 1971 3,574,916

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EUGENE G. BLONDHE/M B FRANKM-AN/CH @Muk ATTORNEYS Patented April 13, 1971 3 Sheets-Shoat 5 INVENTORS EUGENE G. BLONDHE/M FRANKMAN/CH AT TORNE VS CRANKSIIAFI" SALVAGE MACHINE Heretofore it has been known that there have been many and various types of presses, hydraulic rams, and the like, for use in salvage operations, or for compressing metal into compact shapes, or the like. However, there is a definite need in the salvage industry for a device to separate the crankshaft from the block in automobile and truck engines, quickly, economically, and without excessive damage to the crankshaft. Heretofore this has been performed manually, which is an extremely slow and expensive way to accomplish the desired result. What is needed is apparatus to perform the removal of the crankshaft from an engine block quickly, economically and automatically by machine.

Therefore it is the general object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of prior art practices, by providing a device which operates automatically to remove the crankshaft from an engine block for salvage purposes, and wherein the crankshaft is not materially damaged, and the device performs essentially automatically, rapidly and economically.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for removing the crankshaft from an engine block which utilizes a driving ram having a cutting head thereon, which head is designed to seat the crankshaft for driving purposes, and includes shearing cutting surfaces to sever all metal surrounding the crankshaft from the block as the ram drives through.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing an apparatus to press the crankshaft from an engine block which comprises a rectangular-shaped base frame having an open top adapted to receive an engine block therein, means to clamp the block and hold it in positioned relation to the base frame, a driving ram including the head positioned at one end of the base frame and driving the head across the full length of the bottom of the base frame when actuated, the head positioned with respect to the block so that it engages the end of the crankshaft and wipes across the entire bottom surface of the block when actuated, and ram means mounted to the frame and arranged to direct its stroke substantially perpendicularly to the driving ram to knock the block out of the frame after the stroke of the driving ram has been completed.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 2 is a broken away side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the position of a motor block in the carrying frame before crankshaft removal;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. I with the ram driven to the initial actuating position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the device with the motor in position as illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing the driving ram having completed about half its crankshaft removal stroke;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation with the engineand crankshaft being in the configuration of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with the ram having fully completed its crankshaft removal stroke;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation with the ram shown in the position of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the guide plate for the driving ram taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged broken away perspective view of the head of the driving ram;

FIGS. ll, 12 and 13 are front, top and right side views of the head of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a top broken away plan view of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating the block removal ram and its relation to the frame.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral I0 indicates generally a crankshaft removal apparatus which comprises a block carrying frame, indicated generally by the numeral 12, a

driving ram 14 carrying a cutter head 16, a block clamping section illustrated generally by the numeral 18, and a motor block located in the frame 12 and indicated generally by the numeral 20.

The block carrying frame or base frame 12 essentially comprises a bed 30, upwardly extending frame support posts, at each corner of the bed 30, and each identified by the numeral 32. The bed 30 is substantially rectangularly shaped and extending along the long edge on each side is an angularly directed retaining wall, 34 and 36, respectively, and best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8. The walls 34 and 36 extend into sides 38 and 40, respectively, which are best shown in FIG. 14, although the side 38 is visible in each of FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7. The side 40 is fixedly mounted to its corner support post 32, and hence is part of the fixed construction with respect to the bed 30 and posts 32. However, the side 38 is pivotally mounted at the point where it joins to the wall 34 by some type of convenient hinge, as indicated by the numeral 38a. The top edge of the side 38 is held in position by retaining pins 38b, as indicated by the dotted lines, with these pins being removable either automatically, by some type of solenoid actuation or the like, or manually, so that the side 38 can fold down and allow a block 20 to be pushed out the side thereof by an appropriate ram indicated generally by the numeral 50 when the crankshaft has been removed from the block 20, as will be more fully defined hereinafter. The top of the base frame 12 is open to allow the positioning of the block 20 through the top by a chain fall, crane, or the like, and into the position indicated in FIG. I of the drawings. However, it should be understood that an alternative design, would be to have the top of the frame 12 closed, and simply position the block 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1, through the open side 38, in much the same manner as the block 20 is removed therefrom by the ram 50, as defined above.

The ram 14 essentially comprises a hydraulically actuated pressure piston 60 slidably received in its housing 62, and connecting to the head 16. The piston 60 is operatively affixed to a driving rod 64 which connects directly to the head 16. The rod 64 is designed to have slightly greater length than the length of the total stroke of the piston 60 during operative movement. In order to insure that small metal parts will not cause any jambing of movement by the ram 14, the connecting rod 64 has a sheet metal shield formed therearound to the configuration of the head 16, and the slanted walls 34 and 36. The actual configuration of the shield 64a is more clearly shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings which illustrates it to be a trapezoidal shape and connected by welding or the like to the rod 64. It should also be noted that the upper surface of the shield 64a has laterally protruding edges 64b which are designed to mate in complementary formed grooves in internal channel members 31 connected between the respective corner posts 32. Hence, it is seen that with the shield 64a, no debris can fall between the head 16 and the carrying rod 64 during ramming action by the piston 60.

The head 16 fits through a guide plate 70 connected between the support posts 32 on one end of the frame 12, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7. Essentially, the guide plate 70 is nothing more than a thick piece of metal formed with an opening therein to receive the head 16, and to slidably receive the shield 64a formed around the rod 64. FIG. 9 clearly illustrates the cross-sectional configuration of the plate 70, and how it performs guiding action, not only for the ram 16, but for the shield 64a and rod 64.

The actual clamping of the block 20 into the frame 12 is accomplished by the clamping section 18 located at the other end of the frame 12, and this mechanism 18 comprises a pressure cylinder mounted in vertical relation as indicated in FIGS. 2,4, 6 and 8, and supported to the posts 32 by angled support arms 82. The pressure cylinder 80 drives a power piston 84 which is connected to a substantially C-shaped clamping head 86. The head 86 is slidably received in vertically directed slots in the posts 32 so that it can move from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 which is in unclamped relationship to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 where it clamps the bell-shaped connection between the transmission and the motor in position as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 through 8 of the drawings. In fact, the preferable position is that shown in FIG. 6 where the head 86 is illustrated as pressing down on the bell-shaped housing 20a so as to force the bottom edge thereof, and consequently, the oil pan assembly of the block 20 against the slanted walls 34 and 36 of the base frame 12. In this position, the motor block 20 is securely clamped in fixed relation to the frame I2 so that the driving action by the head 16 upon actuation of the ram 14 can be accomplished.

In order that the clamp head 86 might slide freely in the post 32, the invention contemplates that it will carry on each leg thereof, a cleaning rod 88 which slides in that portion of the slot not occupied by the sides of the member 86, and extends down into the ground or a recess beneath the frame I2 so that in effect the slots in the post 32 cannot be clogged with metal or other debris caused by the ramming operation to be defined hereinafter, and always allows free vertical sliding movement of the head 86 upon the actuation of the cylinder 80.

Cutter Head The cutter head 16 is best seen in FIG. 10 of the drawings. Essentially, it comprises a specially formed body portion ]6a which has an essentially trapezoidal shape in front plan, as seen in FIG. 11, but a somewhat snowplow configuration from bottom to top of thisfront face. The sides are straight, as is the top, and edge surfaces 16b, 0, d and e are flat, but formed with sharp edges so as to provide shearing action upon the movement of the head 16 by the rod 64. Essentially. the cutting is only accomplished on the leading edges of the surfaces 160 and 16d as they scrape off the oil pan and other crankshaft connecting structures from the block 20, to be more fully defined hereinafter. The rod 64 terminates in an enlarged cup-shaped seat 16f which is either a separately machined member or formed integrally with the body I6a. However, the essential feature of the seat 16f is that it is a concaved dished surface, as best shown in FIGS. 12 and I3, which is adapted to receive the end of the crankshaft carrying a vibration damper or bearings as the case may be, and firmly seat this end into a direct drive connection through the rod 64 and actuating piston60. The dish-shape is concave and is preferably smooth so as to firmly center and seat the end of the crankshaft thereinto.

The bottom or snowplow shaped portion of the face 16a merely serves to push debris, etc, which may fall down upon the shearing action caused by the push of the seat 16f and the leading edges of the bases 16c and 16a as the head is driven forwardly. In order to prevent the end of the crankshaft from popping out from the seat 16f, a lip 16 extends over the upper surface thereof and serves to prevent dislodgement of the end of the crankshaft caused by vibration, or some abrupt changes in force which may occur during the ramming action.

Operation OPERATION The operation of the device of the invention is illustrated in the sequential views shown by FIGS. 1 through 8. Essentially, the block comprising a motor portion labeled M, a transmission portion labeled T, and a crankshaft labeled C, in FIG. 5, pistons P of FIG. 5, flywheel F of FIG. 5, and front bearing or vibration dampener B of FIG. 1, is positioned as shown in FIG. I of the drawings. As indicated above, any suitable means to position the motor block 20 will meet the objects of the invention. Once in position, the clamping block or member 86 is driven into position by its appropriate cylinder 80 to clamp over the bell housing 20a and hold the motor block 20in secure relationship to the frame I2. At this point, the ram 14 is actuated causing movement of the head 16 from the dotted line position shown in FIG. I, to the dotted line position of FIG. 3, where the concave seat I6] engages the front bearing or vibration dampener B and begins the effective removal of the crankshaft. The stroke is about half completed as indicated by the dotted line portion in FIG. 5, which shows that the flywheel F, pistons P and crankshaft C are about half removed from the block 20. FIG. 6 shows the clamped relationship of the bell housing 20a during this portion of the stroke. FIG. 7 illustrates the completed stroke of the head 16, an its position with respect to the end post 32 at the clamping head 18 of the frame 12. At this point, the block 20 is completely severed from the transmission and the crankshaft, and it is a simple matter to actuate the piston 50, causing it to drive transversely to the direction of movement of the head 16 and force the remainder of the block 20 out the side 38 by releasing the holding pins 38!; and allowing pivotal motion of the side 38 about hinges 38a, as described above. Once this side action removal has been accomplished, and the piston 50 is returned to its initial position, the ram 14 and head 16 are withdrawn to their position indicated in FIG. 1, at which time another block can be positioned in the device for removal of the crankshaft in accordance with the procedure defined above.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention have been made by providing a device which securely clamps a motor block in position, and then drives a cutting ram which securely engages the end of the crankshaft across the bottom edge of a motor positioned in the supporting frame. The cutting head and particularly the leading edge of surfaces and 16d shear the metal surrounding and retaining the crankshaft in position with respect to the block because of the lower strength characteristics thereof, and allow the crankshaft to emerge in relatively good shape so that normal salvage operations can be undertaken therewith in its separated condition from the motor block. Because of the unique design of the head I6, and particularly the snowplow front face and the concave seat, all debris scraped off the bottom of the motor is deposited out the end of the device through the opening created by a clamping head 86, and controlled by the walls 34 and 36. The ram 50 and pivotal sidewall 38 allow for quick and ready removal of the block 20 after the crankshaft removal has been completed by the full movement of the head 16.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes only the best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus to press the crankshaft from an engine block which comprises:

a rectangular-shaped base frame having an open top adapted to receive an engine block therein;

means to clamp the block and hold it in position in the base frame;

a driving ram including a head positioned at one end of the base frame and driving the head across the full length of the bottom of the base frame when actuated, said head positioned with respect to the block so that it engages the end of the crankshaft and wipes across the entire bottom surface of the block when actuated; and

ram means mounted to the frame and arranged to direct its stroke substantially perpendicularly to the driving ram to knock the block out of the frame after the stroke of the driving ram has been completed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the driving ram and ram means are both hydraulically actuated.

3. Apparatus according to claim I which include a C-shaped clamping head designed to snugly engage with the bell-shaped cover extending between the transmission and block of an automobile block and hold the block in relation to the frame, and hydraulic press means actuating and controlling the C- shaped clamping member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes sheet metal shields surrounding the driving ram in its driving relationship through the frame to prevent the entrance of any debris between the frame and the driving ram.

the upper central portion of the head positioned so as to receive the end of the crankshaft thereinto, and where the seat is directly aligned with the ram so that the forced transmittal of the ram through the seat to the crankshaft is substantially linear.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 where the seat of the head has an overhanging lip which prevents the end of the crankshaft from popping out during the ram as caused by vibrations.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. 3574916 Dated April 13, 1971 Inventor(s) Frank M. Anich and Eugene G. Blondheim It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Frank M. An'Lch 34 N. Village View Road Tallmadge, Ohio 44278 Eugene G. Blondheim 3070 Chenoweth Road Akron, Ohio 44312 Signed and sealed this 1 0th day of August 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FI TETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLIJR, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Apparatus to press the crankshaft from an engine block which comprises: a rectangular-shaped base frame having an open top adapted to receive an engine block therein; means to clamp the block and hold it in position in the base frame; a driving ram including a head positioned at one end of the base frame and driving the head across the full length of the bottom of the base frame when actuated, said head positioned with respect to the block so that it engages the end of the crankshaft and wipes across the entire bottom surface of the block when actuated; and ram means mounted to the frame and arranged to direct its stroke substantially perpendicularly to the driving ram to knock the block out of the frame after the stroke of the driving ram has been completed.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the driving ram and ram means are both hydraulically actuated.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 which include a C-shaped clamping head designed to snugly engage with the bell-shaped cover extending between the transmission and block of an automobile block and hold the block in relation to the frame, and hydraulic press means actuating and controlling the C-shaped clamping member.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes sheet metal shields surrounding the driving ram in its driving relationship through the frame to prevent the entrance of any debris between the frame and the driving ram.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 where the sheet metal housing surrounding the drive ram has a pair of laterally extending flanges which engage with mating grooves of the frame to support the housing and the ram during its longitudinal sliding movement through the frame.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the driving ram head has a snowplow-shaped lower portion which extends through the end of the frame upon the completed stroke of the ram to allow all debris collected by the ram during its stroke to be removed from the frame, and a concaved-shaped seat at the upper central portion of the head positioned so as to receive the end of the crankshaft thereinto, and where the seat is directly aligned with the ram so that the forced transmittal of the ram through the seat to the crankshaft is substantially linear.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 where the seat of the head has an overhanging lip which prevents the end of the crankshaft from popping out during the ram as caused by vibrations. 